When I was a child my parents explained to me how important it is to make time every day for reading the Bible and praying. Wanting to please them, and knowing it was the right thing to do, I began to have a brief period of devotions each day before bed. I do not remember a whole lot about how I conducted these devotions, but I do remember struggling with whether or not it was acceptable to pray the Lord’s Prayer instead of praying a personal prayer. Though it is given by Jesus as a model of prayer, for some reason it seemed to me to be a lazy option. When I was tired and worn out after a long day of saving the world or teasing my sisters, I’d often collapse into bed, pray the Lord’s Prayer, and fall asleep. In so doing I treated the Lord’s Prayer as a magic prayer that contains power simply because it comes directly from Scripture. I put little of my heart and little of my mind into the prayer.
Of course there is nothing wrong with praying the Lord’s Prayer. While it may serve primarily as a model of prayer, it is a wonderfully profound, yet simple prayer and one we would all do well to study and meditate upon. When You Pray by Philip Ryken is a helpful tool for doing just this (Note: the book was published in 2000 by Crossway under the same title. It has been reissued in 2006 by P&R Publishing Company). It is “a practical exposition of the Lord’s Prayer from Scripture. The more we pray, the more deeply we are drawn into communion with God. And the more we study the Lord’s Prayer, the better we are able to pray. So perhaps an exposition such as this one can help us draw closer to our heavenly Father.”
The book begins with three chapters dealing with how we are to pray. Ryken teaches first how to pray like a hypocrite, then how to preach like an orphan, and finally how to pray like God’s own dear child. Ten chapters follow, each of which discusses one of the phrases or petitions of the Prayer, beginning of course with “Our Father in Heaven and closing with “The Power and the Glory.” Ryken shows how this prayer can be prayed as-is, but also how it ought to model our other prayers. It is easy to read and simple to digest and with fairly short chapters it is ideally suited for use with personal devotions or for group study (and, in fact, there are useful study questions at the end of each of the chapters).
When You Pray is the kind of book that may slip by almost unnoticed, and this is a shame, for it is an excellent resource. It is one that is well worth reading and will doubtless prove a valuable addition to any library. I enjoyed it a great deal and am glad to recommend it to you.
Comments (14) »
1. Josh Rives
November 28, 2006
11:39 AM
Thanks. I have been wanting a good book on prayer for a while. Onward to impulse buying.
2. nakedpastor
November 28, 2006
12:31 PM
thanks for the lead on what sounds like a good book on prayer… in my time in the reformed tradition, we learned that all the reformers took the Lord’s Prayer as THE model, outline, guideline, template… whatever!… for good prayer. this sounds like it is in the same tradition
3. Steve
November 28, 2006
12:53 PM
I have read many books on prayer, and/or using the “Lord’s Prayer” and repeating it by rote, or even with a depth of feeling and intention in mind. I find that I tend towards Jesus using this as an example, especially in light of the fact that He said “pray like this…” Not…”pray this prayer”.
This is by no means an attempt to say that using it or repeating it is wrong, but I have found a couple of words in scripture that have led me to believe that God seeks a different kind of communication from us. One that is more personal, and ‘child to Father’, like - than some formal recitation.
The first is “koinonia”, a combination of two words that mean: to share, and in common. In essence; to share that which we have in common. In our english language this word is translated as communion, contribution, distribution, fellowship, and communication. In our modern society we tend to view communion and the taking of the Lord’s supper with deep, somber reflection and quiet time…and view fellowship as dinner, laughing, and having fun. When in reality, to our Lord, there is no difference between them. Only our human attitudes change what God intended.
But more importantly, to this topic anyway, would be the word “siach”. This is the word that we use for meditation. While it brings to mind a person sitting with his legs crossed, eyes closed, and repeating “ommmmm” over and over, I found that God, again, intended this to be something different. Especially when I see that the other words in english are translated as: commune, complain, pray, meditate, speak, talk, talk with, declare, muse, babbling, communication, complaint, meditation, and prayer.
As you can see, God wants more from us than formal, recitation of needs and such. I see from this that He seeks a genuine relationship with His creations…His children. One that is deeper, and at the same time, more relaxed than we often times realize.
Of course, there is always more to learn, so I think I will read this book also. Sorry for rambling.
4. Peter Smythe
November 28, 2006
2:56 PM
I have not read the book, but the author’s premise is flawed. He fails to account for the resurrection. The Lord’s Prayer is an Old Testament prayer. When the disciples asked Jesus how to pray, they asked as Jews under the Old Covenant. This is demonstrated not only in Paul’s prayers found in the Epistles, but also in John 16:24 where Jesus instructs his disciples concerning prayer when He says, “Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.” Prayer after the resurrection is quite different from the prayer of those under the Old Covenant.
5. SolShine7
November 28, 2006
3:55 PM
Thanks for the suggestion. I’m curious about the first three chapters on how to “pray like a hypocrite, then how to preach like an orphan, and finally how to pray like God’s own dear child”.
6. Tim Challies
November 28, 2006
4:22 PM
“I have not read the book, but the author’s premise is flawed. He fails to account for the resurrection.”
I have neither time nor energy to answer that. But seriously…
7. Brian at voiceofthesheep
November 28, 2006
4:31 PM
Prayer after the resurrection is quite different from the prayer of those under the Old Covenant.
Yeah…let’s just chuck the Psalms as well, as they are, after all, written prior to the New Covenant.
Seriously, Peter…why do you continue to post at this site?
8. Pete
November 29, 2006
9:28 AM
It is my opinion that written prayer and novel prayer are both appropriate. I find myself doing roughly half of each. I have a devotion book which has closing prayers from as early as 200AD which are very moving. Thru Christ, I feel a community connection to these Christians who are also part of Christ’s body of all believers and who love(d) and serve(d) the same Lord we do. Also, reading and meditating on a Psalm to me is a form of prayer. I also pray the Lord’s prayer from time to time. But, lastly, personal prayer is commanded as well. Sometimes, not even in words. For me it isn’t an either/or.
-Pete
9. Peter Smythe
November 29, 2006
9:48 AM
To flesh out my comment a little, I have posted Old Testament references for each of the phrases found in the Lord’s Prayer.
To Brian:
One of the failures of modern theology is the failure to account for what the Bible refers to as the “fullness of time” and the “end of the ages.” When asked about prayer, Jesus responded to the disciples in terms of the time of their lives which were lived under the Old Covenant. When Jesus was about to go to the cross and institute the New Covenant, he returned to the doctrine of prayer and said, “You haven’t been praying in my Name, but now you will pray in My name.” Am I saying, “Let’s just chuck out Psalms as well?” Not in the least. I am saying, however, that we should take the Lord at His word.
One suggested reading is The Art of Reading Scripture. In that book the authors get it right in saying that the Bible should be read “back to front.” Richard Hays’s article is terrific.
As for my comments, if Tim, you or others just want to wax philosophical about scripture without actually dealing with the text, then I probably shouldn’t waste any time commenting.
10. Steve
November 29, 2006
5:36 PM
Peter,
I hesitate to make a response to your posts, but feel like you might benefit from a re-consideration of your understanding, as regards prayer. Specific to the points already made. Scripturally, there is only one time that Jesus instructed on prayer. Paul’s prayers were specific to Paul, and his, and the other Apostles urging that we pray unceasingly, do not represent instruction in the how to’s, as Jesus’ did.
The John 16 reference you made, perhaps you might read again. You place an emphasis on an instruction of prayer, when the context of the chapter is dealing with Jesus trying to, well…do many things. However, finding an instruction of prayer among them, would be a stretch. I believe if you look at Jesus prayers in chapter 17 you’ll find the very components He instructed the disciples to utilize in their own prayers.
You make the supposition that prayer is different after the resurection. I would be curious how you came to that conclusion? In the scripture that you referenced - if I had to pick a scripture that summed up the point Jesus was making in his discourse with His disciples, I would say it was vs 27-27: “In that day you will ask in my name. I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf. No, the Father Himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God….”
An alteration of the covenant from Old Testament Law of sacrifice and atonement, to one of forgiveness and salvation, would not seem to negate anything that Jesus taught…rather it would be as Paul said…Jesus was the fulfillment of the Law; the completion of God’s plan.
I would think, as I’m sure any resonable person would, that if there were to be change in something as inherently important as prayer, that there would have been a specific point made to emphasize this….rather than draw various scriptures from outside their context and use them to weave some change that would require a scholar to figure out. This would seem to be contrary to God’s desire for communication from us.
Rather than take up more post space on Tim’s blog, write a comprehensive response, or treatise on your site and I would very glad to see how you arrived at your conclusions.
Sorry to Tim and everyone…I hope I didn’t over step my bounds.
11. Peter Smythe
November 30, 2006
9:26 AM
Steve, maybe in the future I’ll write a “treatise,” but I’ll leave a couple of comments and probably leave this blog at that.
The disciples no doubt lived under the Old Covenant. When they approached Jesus about prayer, He responded to them as people living under the Old Covenant. This is significant because those living under the Old Covenant were “looking unto the promise,” not as ones who already had the promise. (Heb. 11:39). One significant thing about the Lord’s Prayer is that it is not prayed in the Name of Jesus. When Jesus was about to go to the cross, He signified a new and direct way to pray because the Old Covenant was about to become fulfilled and obsolete. (John 19:30; Heb. 8:32). The New Covenant established a new High Priest and a new priesthood concerning prayer. (Heb. 10; Heb. 15:16; I Peter 2:5).
Your statement “Paul’s prayers were specific to Paul” is unfounded. In Ephesians 3:4, Paul states that we should be able to understand or perceive his understanding of the “mystery of Christ.” All of Paul’s prayers center on that verse and since they are prayers to the New Testament church, they form the outline, if you will, of proper prayer today.
To say that it takes a scholar to figure this out sidesteps the reality of the Word as narrative.
One more thing, on my blog I’ve already dealt with New Testament forgiveness which is much different than Old Covenant forgiveness which is found in the Lord’s Prayer. I’m also dealing with John 19:30 which signifies the end of the Old Covenant.
I appreciate your comments and I don’t plan to take up any more of Tim’s space.
12. Brian at voiceofthesheep
November 30, 2006
10:41 AM
Peter,
A couple of questions that I hope you will be willing to answer:
-Why would Jesus instruct the disciples to pray in a way that would be obsolete in a very short time (within a year or so)?
-Jesus being God in the flesh, and knowing all things…why would He model a prayer that He knew would be recorded in the New Testament gospels…and why wouldn’t He have told the disciples that this how-to prayer would only be effective up until He was resurrected?
-If I don’t end my prayers with, “in Jesus’ name”, am I not praying correctly and violating some NT prayer formula?
Thanks.
13. Pete
November 30, 2006
3:52 PM
Luther dealt with this question and I like the answer. Those before Christ and after Christ still relied on the future work of Christ or past work of Christ to have any hope that their prayers would be heard.
-Pete
Why, then, does Christ say that up till now they have not prayed in His name? In this way He wants to distinguish between the Old and the New Testament, between His forerunners and His advent or present reign.
To be sure, before this day the dear patriarchs and prophets also prayed in the right spirit and faith; but they did so only in reliance on the Christ who was yet to come. Now, however, it shall no longer be called praying in reliance on the One who is yet to come but praying in the name of Him who has already come.
LW-Volume 24
14. Steve
November 30, 2006
4:08 PM
I like that answer Pete.
Very nicely answered.